9 out of 10 workers discontent over Moon's labor policy: survey

Members of progressive labor groups call for better labor policies during a press conference at the Franciscan Education Center in central Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Nearly nine out of 10 workers are unhappy with the government's labor policy, a survey showed Tuesday.

Two progressive labor groups, “No more temporary workers” and “Gapjil 119,” conducted the online survey of 1,224 workers last month, ahead of the Moon Jae-in administration's second anniversary on May 10.

According to the survey, 90.4 percent said they had high expectations for the labor policy of the Moon government, which has campaigned for better working conditions.

However, 86.9 percent said they disapprove of his policies now.

By policy, 67.4 percent said government policies are not helping to reduce irregular jobs in the public sector and another 27.7 percent also said the policies will not affect the current employment structure regarding temporary workers.

While the minimum hourly wage has hiked under the Moon administration along with its “income-led growth” principle, 41.4 percent said the hikes have not led to an increase in their income, and 48.6 percent even said they saw their pay cut.

Regarding the policy on work hours, 51.4 percent said it was good to introduce the 52-hour workweek but it was wrong to expand the period for the flexible work hour system. Some 34 percent said the expanded period will diminish the positive effects of the 52-hour workweek policy.

To solve the irregular employment issue, 58 percent emphasized the government's strong will, while 21.6 percent cited establishment of irregular workers' unions, 11.3 percent said public consensus is important, and 9 percent said permanent workers must make concessions.

About 40 percent of the respondents said the nation needs to establish a special law to ban discrimination in salary and other perks between regular and irregular workers doing the same job.

Some 80.7 percent were dissatisfied with their working life. For the cause of discontent, they generally picked low income, poor job security and long working hours.